The Callindra Chronicles Book One - First Quest (14 page)

“
If I calm down I’m likely
to be destroyed. I’ve only survived this long by being
unpredictable.” With that she turned and walked quickly out the
door without waiting for his response.

On her way back to the Empty Keg, Callindra
walked through a different part of the city. She partially wanted
to scout for some other mercenary companies but had also just
wanted to explore a little. By some random chance she happened down
a row of shops carrying arms and armor. When she paused to look at
a set of leather armor, the proprietor all but chased her off.

“
I don’t do custom work
here, only basic fittings and I don’t carry anything for females!”
He said, scowling at her ragtag appearance.

“
I wouldn’t want to buy
something with that kind of sloppy stitching.” She retorted, “This
looks like it would fall apart just from being worn, I’d hate to
see what would happen if someone struck it with a
blade.”

The man appeared to be choking on his own
tongue but the man standing in the door of the shop next door
laughed. “Looks like she’s got your number Kerrik! Come here girl,
I’ve got the quality you’re looking for.”

Callindra sauntered across to him, adjusting
her baldric with a smirk. When she stepped into the room, she could
immediately see this man was selling very good work. She could also
see there was no way she would ever be able to afford anything he
would be selling.

“
Amazing. I’ve never seen
craftsmanship like this before.” She said, “I wish I could buy
some.”

“
I think I might have
something that would suit you.” He replied, “I can’t sell it
because it’s not complete and the Lord who ordered it has decided
to purchase merchandise of lesser quality.”

“
I really can’t afford to
buy…” Her voice trailed off as he opened a cabinet and withdrew a
full upper body set of leather armor. Beautifully tooled with a
delicate pattern along every edge, it was dark brown and had royal
blue highlights.

“
It was made for the Lord’s
daughter. For when she went hawking I gather, but when he realized
the price wouldn’t be negotiable simply because he had a title and
he could find others to do decorative work for less he refused to
pay. I haven’t been able to find anyone slight enough of form that
it would fit but I think this might just work for you.” He unlaced
the pauldrons from the breastplate and held it out to
her.

Knowing she couldn’t afford it didn’t stop
Callindra from unbuckling Brightfang and carefully setting him
within easy reach. With the shop keep’s help, she put the
breastplate on and adjusted the buckles so that it would fit her
properly. It hugged her body as though it had been designed
specifically for her. There was even a set of straps to affix her
baldric in place over the right shoulder.

“
It’s beautiful. I can’t
believe how well it fits.” She said, bending and feeling the armor
flex with her. “How do you get it to be this strong and yet so
supple at the same time?”

“
That’s the secret of good
leather armor, or any armor really. It has to be sturdy enough to
turn a blow but still leave the wearer sufficiently mobile to fight
to her full potential.” He was studying her closely and reached out
to tighten one of the buckles before settling the pauldrons over
her shoulders and fitting them in place.

With the armor completely strapped down,
Callindra felt invincible. The thick boiled and waxed leather would
turn most blows she was unwary or unlucky enough to allow to land
but it seemed to barely impede her movement at all.

“
I knew I’d saved this for a
reason, he is going to die of apoplexy when he sees you wearing
this.” He chuckled, “What’s your name girl?”

“
I – uh Callindra.” She
responded, a bit taken aback by the look on his face.

“
No, your full name. I know
you’ve been formally trained just by the way you walk, but the way
your sword moves with you is a dead giveaway. Your trainer did tell
you about Naming right?”

“
I took my Master’s name. I
am Callindra Sol’Estin, and you are?”

“
Gerard Markson.” His
eyebrows rose slightly and he extended his hand. She shook it
firmly, “Pleasure to make your acquaintance Callindra. OK, I’ll
make you a deal. You attend the Trials this afternoon and wear this
armor. If anyone asks you where you got it from you tell them from
Markson. If you win, I’ll give it to you for free.”

“
What? Why would you do
that?” She touched the armor almost reverently, “This is … I’ve
seen what your work is worth. I don’t think I can accept it.” The
regret she felt was palpable.

“
You’ll get my name out
there a little more, especially when you win. You can win can’t
you?”

“
I don’t know what these
Trials are, but if it’s a fight then I will win.” She smiled
dangerously, “If I have this kind of incentive then I’m guaranteed
to win.”

“
Good, it’s settled then.
Make sure you get someone to help you adjust it before you get in
there, otherwise it’ll throw you off.” She could hear him mutter
under his breath, “He’ll never live this down, the
bastard.”

“
What was that?” She asked,
wondering what other strings might be attached.

“
Lord Graylocke will be
completely humiliated when you are seen wearing this armor. After
all, it has his House colors and similar patterns to his Crest but
you are certainly not his daughter. Of course I waited to make the
final additions that would complete it as a registered piece of
Graylocke regalia, so you are technically allowed to wear it.”
Gerard said.

“
I’d wear it even if I
wasn’t allowed! Armor like this is wasted simply sitting in a
cupboard.” Callindra smiled, “I’ll put it to good use.”

Chapter 13

“
Name?” The man sat behind a
desk with a ledger open before him. He looked hopelessly out of
place in the arena, old and thin with only a few wisps of hair left
on his head.

“
Callindra.” She replied,
watching as he marked it down. He looked up expectantly and she
shook her head, “That’s it.”

He marked an X in the surname column,
“Age?”

“
Eighteen” she replied,
staring down his disbelieving look until he shrugged, muttering and
marked it down as well.

“
School?”

Callindra had given this a bit of thought.
She knew she wasn’t supposed to mention her master. After all it
was teaching her that had gotten him into trouble in the first
place. Saying she was self-taught seemed to dishonor his teaching
though; she was proud of the things he had shown her. After some
consideration had decided to give a generic enough name that nobody
would question it.

“
Northwind.” He glanced at
her briefly before marking that down as well.

“
Class?”

“
What?”

“
Classification.” He said
patiently, obviously having had to repeat the same speech several
times today, “The type of position you wish to try out for. I’m
guessing light infantry?”

“
No, I want to be a scout.”
She said, having heard this was a coveted position.

“
Everyone wants to be a
scout. Can you shoot?” He asked, “I notice you don’t have a
bow.”

“
No, I never had a knack for
the bow. I’m sort of a specialist.” Callindra said.

“
A part of the trial for
entrance into that particular group will be an archery contest.
Only the best get in girl, it’s the only way they can maintain an
elite unit.” He paused and set down his quill. “I can’t stop you
from wasting your time, but I might rethink that choice if I were
you.”

Callindra was surprised by this turn of
kindness, “What would you suggest sir?”

“
Take the trial for light
infantry and if you do well enough you might convince some Lord or
another to make you his daughter’s warden. It’s decent work, and
since you’re a girl it would allow you to keep guard even when she
is in places where her father would never let a man
attend.”

“
Sit in a room and watch
some spoiled brat all day? I don’t know, sounds like a waste of my
training to me.” She sighed, knowing he was probably right, at
least about the Scout position she wanted. Maybe she could get some
experience and try to join the Wolves after she’d proven herself.
“Thanks for the advice, put me down for light infantry
then.”

He marked that down as well, nodding in
satisfaction that she had followed his suggestion. “You’re a little
early, you can go warm up in ring six. Since you are a sword
specialist, most of your testing will revolve around hand to hand
combat, you will be provided with a practice blade.”

Callindra nodded and made her way past a
lavish tent towards her appointed station. A man stopped her as she
walked past, “You, girl! Where did you get that armor?”

“
A master of leatherworking
by the name of Markson made it.” She said, “His shop is in
the–“

“
I know where his shop is.”
The man interrupted, “To think he would throw it in his lordship’s
face.” He snorted, “You’re playing a foolish and dangerous game
girl.”

“
What do you mean?”
Callindra asked, but the man had already spun on his heel, causing
his richly embroidered cloak to flare as he stalked away. She
shrugged, the fool didn’t even have a sword. Besides, wearing armor
certainly couldn’t get her into trouble; even if it had once been
intended for someone else.

-

Much to her surprise, the majority of the
morning had been spent on drills, tests of military terminology and
tactics. Callindra felt she had done fairly well, the books she had
read were slightly outdated but much of the knowledge they
contained was still relevant. She hoped it was anyway. The sun was
hot and sitting in her armor was beginning to get
uncomfortable.

“
Right! Head to mess and
report to your assigned ring for combat testing!” Said the man who
had most recently been grilling them individually about infantry
strategies.

Callindra rose and followed the rest into a
large tent where bread, meat, cheese and water were being doled out
in large quantities. She took her share with a nod of thanks and
sat at the nearest table. In spite of the training she’d endured,
the promise of a fight against an unknown opponent was a
frightening prospect. The feeling seemed to be prevalent among many
of her peers, there wasn’t much talking among them.

Between bites she glanced around the room,
noting the wide variety of armaments and armor. Twice when idly
looking about she caught a man in nondescript clothes staring at
her. The second time he met her eye his mouth parted in a vicious
grin and pushed through the line of people waiting their turn to
eat.

She finished her meal, eating out of
necessity rather than because she wanted to. She brought her plate
back to the table and then returned to the ring. She sat
cross-legged with Brightfang across her knees and allowed the
trance of meditation to overtake her. Her breath was the breath of
the Winds and calm fell over her like a warm blanket.

“
Callindra of Northwind,
you’re facing Fash Con’Anin from Stoneforge. Enter the ring.” The
official looked at Callindra, “Leave your blade there.”

Reluctantly, she unbuckled Brightfang and lay
him down on the sand. She stepped into the ring and took the
bundled lath practice sword from the official, hefting it to feel
the balance. It wasn’t too bad, although the blade was slightly too
heavy. Her opponent was doing the same.

“
The fight is over when one
combatant achieves three hits. Hands, feet, neck, groin and face
are off limits. This is a test of control as well as skill, you are
not to hit full strength. Leave the ring and you are disqualified
immediately. I want a clean fight.” Said the official, checking
each of them in turn to make sure they understood. When they both
nodded he stepped back, “Begin!”

Callindra could hear Glarian’s voice in her
head, ‘When you aren’t sure of your opponent, attack quickly with a
shallow strike that will not leave you vulnerable. That way you can
set the rhythm of the fight and feel out your adversary’s skill at
the same time.’

She leaped forward, striking like a whip
crack at Fash’s right shoulder. He flinched backward and Callindra
realized this practice sword was a hand span shorter than
Brightfang. When her opponent offered no counterattack, she pressed
on, striking a rapid series of blows. She struck chest, right leg,
left shoulder in a flowing series of attacks, the bundled lath
making a satisfying *clack* with each successful blow.

When she had struck three times, Callindra
stepped back into the Ready Stance and waited. The official gave
her an appraising look and nodded sharply. “Victory goes to
Callindra of Northwind. You may rest in the shade until your next
match.”

She put her right fist over her heart, still
gripping her sword in her other hand with the blade reversed to run
up her left forearm and bowed from the waist to the official and
her opponent. Fash was staring at her in shocked disbelief.

“
But you’re a girl!” He
bleated, “Just a stupid girl!”

Callindra walked back and reclaimed
Brightfang. Slinging his comfortable sheathed weight over her
shoulder she turned to fix Fash with a baleful stare, “Take your
loss and learn from it, never underestimate an opponent based on
foolish prejudice.”